Rachel Clegg, in the Tourist Trophy microcosm.

Let me tell you about Rachel Clegg, a personality I met by chance in the paddocks of this year's Tourist Trophy, simply by giving her a hand unloading all the equipment needed to set up her stand. She's been here since the start of the event, and will be with us right up to the chequered flag of the senior TT race on Saturday June 7.

Rachel describes herself as an artist. She draws her inspiration from anecdotes linked to motorsport. Her father and brother raced in various British championships and races, and her father, Noel Clegg, was once a TT driver.

Rachel Clegg, dans le microcosme du Tourist Trophy.

As for her educational background, there's nothing really special to note, apart from a nascent desire to escape into "something else". Not really passionate about her studies, she became interested in art history after visiting a museum on a school trip. She often went there afterwards, so there was a certain attraction.

Talking about her passions, I can mention Rock n Roll, reading, and the Tourist Trophy of course.
Through her work as a journalist, Rachel has met a lot of people: she remembers a press conference with John Mc Guinness (whom she's particularly fond of), Gary Johnson, and Guy Martin. They were all on the same wavelength and had a lot of fun - quite a lot of fun, in fact - and she still remembers laughing on the train the next day as she listened to the voice conference she'd recorded. What came out of it was that you have to get away from political correctness and think outside the box, live life to the full - the rest, Fuck off !!!

As a result of her close ties with many of these riders, she draws on anecdotes related to the situations she photographs. One example is a sidecar driver who, having broken the throttle cable on his sidecar, stopped on the track and recovered the throttle cable from the lawnmower to finish the race. This anecdote inspired her to take a photo of Rachel crossing the street naked, pushing the lawnmower.

In addition to the magnificent photos, she has also written a 260-page book recounting these rather unusual and funny anecdotes during the TT races. Another book focuses on another temple of competition and thrills: the Nürburgring.

Whether you're a TT fan, a motor sports enthusiast or a photographer, if you're ever on the island, come and see his exhibition, or buy a calendar or a necklace to take home as a souvenir, it's well worth the detour.

Rachel Clegg, dans le microcosme du Tourist Trophy.